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June is National Men’s Health Month. After all, June includes Father’s Day. Men are encouraged to do something positive about their health, such as treating hearing loss to hear better. Since hearing is at the heart of every father’s story, three different fathers were interviewed about how treating hearing loss has made a crucial difference in their lives and in the lives of their families. They all got hearing aids. They specifically replied first as to whether or not they were embarrassed about getting hearing aids, and then they sat down with family members to discuss everything in more detail.

The question about any embarrassment

The first father, Randy, said that he has worn glasses all of his life and never gave it a second thought. He has no problem with people’s thoughts on that subject, but it was different with the idea of getting hearing aids. He said he was worried about appearing handicapped or seeming old. He said he was in denial about his hearing loss, as a result. But he decided to get hearing aids, anyway, coming to the conclusion that he was giving up a lot with “foolish thinking” about getting them. He added that people should get hearing loss treated to increase the quality of life.

The second father, Dennis, said that hearing aids are no problem because they come in many colors now, are smaller, and even blend in with the color of one’s hair. He said people are more accepting today about hearing aids. He encouraged people to get help and have better hearing.

The third father, Gordy, said that he is the leader of his family and business, so getting hearing aids increased business, since he could hear more naturally and the tension was less with his family.

A more in-depth look

On exploring the subject deeper, Randy sat down with his son-in-law, Adam, and had a heart-to-heart discussion after Randy got hearing aids. Randy is a father, husband, and grandfather, so he wanted to do something proactive about his hearing loss. Adam told him that he had to repeatedly answer questions when speaking softly in a restaurant and noted his father-in-law’s hearing loss at that time. His father-in-law was in denial for 15 to 20 years and only recently got hearing aids. Randy’s colleagues at work would tease him about his hearing loss. He felt like he was on the outside with family gatherings and missed out on conversations with his grandchildren. He withdrew. He finally sat down with his wife and he agreed he had a problem. Upon getting hearing aids, he was “astounded” about the comfort, clarity, and undetectable nature of them. He said he hardly knew he even had hearing aids and could hear better than ever.

A closer look into the life of Dennis occurred with a chat between him and his daughter, Clarissa. Dennis and Clarissa both have hearing aids. Dennis was born with hearing loss when the doctors used forceps and caused nerve damage in his left ear. He calls his left ear his “dead ear.” With the other ear, he noticed hearing loss when he was 18 years old.

He and his daughter would always ask, “What?” a lot. It made them closer and have a sense of humor to share the problem and then get hearing aids together. Dennis would always strain to hear and didn’t hear correctly and often guessed at what was being said, missing out on important conversations.

Clarissa “can’t imagine” life without hearing aids, now. She said, “I am proud to wear them.” Before, she was afraid, but now she is positive about them. She said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” then she added, “The quiet is nice, but a live world is better.”

The third father, Gordy, and his daughter, Leah, sat down to have a discussion, too. Gordy said his hearing loss was gradual. He flew a plane at 20 years old, wore no hearing protection, and the engines were loud. Then, afterward, he worked in auto body, which was a loud industry. Further, he started hunting in his 30s and 40s. Shooting was loud, and he noticed hearing loss after that.

​Leah and her friends noticed his hearing loss in high school. She said she and her friends knew before him. He would turn the TV up loud and cup his ears to hear them. His wife was very social, so when they’d go to parties he’d have trouble understanding conversations. Business interactions with customers also suffered. He said he got hearing aids because of the promptings from his family.

Leah said that he is more confident now, adding that he shows more personality and is more social. He acknowledged that he is also more efficient with engine problems and that gatherings with church members is more positive.

The overview

These men are overjoyed at the change in their lives with getting hearing aids, and their interactions with family, friends, and colleagues have vastly improved. Their hearing aids have really helped revolutionize the quality of their lives. So, if you have hearing loss, don’t hesitate to get hearing aids, not only for the quality of your life, but for optimal health. Many health problems stem from untreated hearing loss.